Fluidic phase shifter

ABSTRACT

Apparatus including an expandable dielectric container and dielectric fluid therein disposed in a waveguide for propagating electromagnetic waves to change the phase thereof. The fluid may be introduced slowly or rapidly into the waveguide or may be continuously circulated through the waveguide to provide cooling.

United States Patent Smith 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] FLUIDIC PHASE SHIFTER [72] inventor: Bob L. Smith, 442 Judith Lane, Apt.

58, Huntsville, Ala.

22 Filed: June 3,1971

21 Appl. No.: 149,418

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 23,120, March 27, 1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..333/31 A, 333/98 R, 333/32 [51] Int.'Cl. ..H03h 7/36 [58] Field of Search ..333/29, 31, 31 A, 95, 98, 24,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,577,197 5/1971 Watts, Jr. ..333/98 P X 2,786,185 3/1957 Sege et al. ..333/98 P TO FLUID SOURCE 2,922,970 1/1960 Reed ..333/98 P 3,384,814 5/1960 Stinehelfer ..333/83 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 761,869 11/1956 Great Britain ..333/8l B Primary Examiner-H. K. Saalbach Assistant Examiner-Marvin Nussbaum Attorney-Charles K. Wright, William G. Gapcynski, Lawrence A. Neureither, Leonard Flank, Jack W. Voigt and William P. Murphy [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus including an expandable dielectric container and dielectric fluid therein disposed in a waveguide for propagating electromagnetic waves to change the phase thereof. The fluid may be introduced slowly or rapidly into the waveguide or may be continuously circulated through the waveguide to provide cooling.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDU 3. 701.058

SHEETIUF 2 Bob L. Smith,

PATENTEU 2 4 I97? 3 7 01. 058 SHEET 2 OF 2 Bob L.Smith,

' INVENTO V FLUIDIC PHASE SHIFTER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 23,120 filed Mar. 27, 1970, now abandoned.

DEDICATORY CLAUSE The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, or licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the signals supplied thereto.

An object of my invention is to provide a waveguide for supplying such signals with a device for accurately shifting the phase of electronic waves that constitute the signals with a minimum voltage standing wave ratio (vswr).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An expandable dielectric-walled container is positioned within a section of a waveguide for propagating electromagnetic waves and disposed to receive a dielectric fluid. The quantity of fluid introduced into the container is controlled to determine the phase shift of the electromagnetic waves. For digital operation, the container would be either completely full or completely empty, according to the phase state desired. For analog operation the container would be filled or emptied at a predetermined rate. The analog or digital modes of operation may be controlled by any means such as a fluidic computer. The present invention is very stable, accurate, rugged, resistant to nuclear radiation and electromagnetic pulses, substantially as wide band as the waveguide itself, and inherently compatible with fluidic computers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross-section, of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar views of other embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An expandable container 11 of dielectric material provided with a longitudinal axis 17 disposed in the direction of propagation 19 of signals (electromagnetic waves) propagated by waveguide and edges beveled as at 13 and oppositely facing in the direction of propagation. The electromagnetic waves are slowed by the dielectric material in the waveguide to shift the phase of the waves and a dielectric fluid is introduced into container 11 through tube 21 to further slow the waves and shift the phase thereof. Tube 21 is disposed for connection to a fluidic computer to monitor the quantity of dielectric fluid introduced into container 11 for accurate control of the phase of the propagated signals. The taper of extremity 13 is selected to provide minimum reflections in waveguide 15 for minimum voltage standing wave ratio (vswr).

FIG. 2 shows a possible configuration of a fluidic phase shifter which may be operated in either analog or digital modes. Extending wall to wall in waveguide section 22 is elliptic cylindrical container 24 within which flexible dielectric-walled bladder 26 is positioned to provide a uniformly expendable container. The plane of the major axis of container 24 is disposed parallel to the electrical field 27 of the electromagnetic waves propagated in waveguide 22. To change the phase of the electromagnetic waves, the bladder is filled or emptied vtith an appropriate dielectric fluid through tube 28. The flow of the dielectric in tube 28 may be controlled by a fluidic computer. This phase shifter (in the analog mode) is capable of very accurate calibration by carefully metering the quantity of dielectric fluid injected. For digital operation the bladder would be either completely full or empty according to the phase state desired. These end states would be stable and accurate. The device, in addition to the above advantages, would be rugged, resistant to nuclear radiation and electromagnetic pulses, substantially as wide band as the waveguide itself, and inherently compatible with fluidic computers.

FIG. 3 discloses another possible embodiment of the present invention capable of operation as a digital phase shifter. Inside waveguide section 32 is container 34 into which can be switched a flow of dielectric fluid. The quantity of fluid is controlled by a pair of fluidic switches 36 which are in turn controlled by a fluidic computer 37 through switch drive lines 38. Dielectric fluid enters the phase shifter assembly through tube 40 and leaves through tube 42. For one phase state the fluid flows as shown by arrows A; in the other state it flows as shown by arrows B. Note that it will be necessary to design the device so that container 34 actually empties when the latter phase state is desired. Like the analog digital design of FIG. 2, this phase shifter is rugged, radiation resistant, electromagnetic pulse resistant, and inherently wide band. The FIG. 3 phase shifter is capable of accurate and stable bit size and is faster acting than the FIG. 2 design. In addition, the phase shifter is compatible with fluidic computers, and has built-in cooling capability since the dielectric fluid may be externally cooled to be capable of high power operation.

Iclaim:

1. A phase shifter for a waveguide for propagation of electric waves comprising:

a uniformly expandable container of dielectric material for enclosing a dielectric fluid provided with longitudinally axised tapered edges oppositely extending in the direction of the propagation; and,

means communicating with said container to monitor the volume of the fluid therein for control of the phase of the waves.

2. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has a flexible dielectric bladder therein for receiving said dielectric fluid.

3. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said monitoring means comprises a fluidic computer.

4. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said monitoring means includes a pair of 5 fluidic valves and a fluidic computer for continuous flow "of the dielectric fluid through said container to provide cooling for said waveguide. 

1. A phase shifter for a waveguide for propagation of electric waves comprising: a uniformly expandable container of dielectric material for enclosing a dielectric fluid provided with longitudinally axised tapered edges oppositely extending in the direction of the propagation; and, means communicating with said container to monitor the volume of the fluid therein for control of the phase of the waves.
 2. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has a flexible dielectric bladder therein for receiving said dielectric fluid.
 3. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said monitoring means comprises a fluidic computer.
 4. A fluidic phase shifter as set forth in claim 3 wherein said monitoring means includes a pair of fluidic valves and a fluidic computer for continuous flow of the dielectric fluid through said container to provide cooling for said waveguide. 